The amount has been proposed for seven ongoing and the same number of new projects across the country. PHOTO:FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education has proposed Rs10.9 billion for 14 education projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the upcoming fiscal year.
Officials of the ministry told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education on Wednesday that the amount has been proposed for seven ongoing and the same number of new projects across the country.
Director Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Dr Mukhtar Ahmad informed the NA panel that a total of 135 projects were ongoing at a cost of Rs20.4 billion, while 68 new projects amounting Rs1.5 billion were yet to be approved. He that though they had been facing difficulties in getting the allocated amount from the government on time, they have maintained well coordination with 156 universities including 87 public sector and 69 private sector universities across the country.
He said that of the allocated Rs18.49 billion in the current fiscal year, only Rs5.5 has been released.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement member Muhammad Rehan Hashmi asked the HEC officials what was the criteria for allocation of funds for universities, as according to him, the NED University of Science and Technology and the University of Sindh, Hyderabad, were facing huge financial issues.
HEC acting Chairperson Imtiaz Hussain Gilani replied that 65 per cent allocations are made on strength of enrollment, 20 per cent on need basis and 15 per cent on performance basis.
He said that the hue and cry about shortage of funds was self-created, as according to him, their own mismanagement was landing them in trouble.
Gilani also said that misconception was created in the recent past about French and German scholarships, as according to him, the embassies of the two countries select universities and students themselves and the HEC has no direct involvement besides signing a memorandum of understanding to channelise the scholarship amount.
Another member of the committee, Phyllis Azeem, asked if there was any quota for minorities while offering scholarships, the ED replied in negative, but noted that there were many students from minorities who availed indigenous and foreign scholarships in the past.
State Minister Balighur Rehman said that stipends for 17,000 teachers working under Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) programme would be increased from Rs2,500 to Rs8,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2014.
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